cræft
See also: -cræft
Old English
FWOTD – 3 October 2012
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *kraftiz, *kraftaz (“strength”). Cognate with Old Frisian kraft, Old Saxon kraft, Dutch kracht ‘strength’, Old High German kraft (German Kraft ‘strength, ability’).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kræft/
Noun
cræft m
- strength, power
- Uncertain date, Unknown author, Beowulf, line 983:
- siððan æðelingas eorles cræfte ofer hēahne hrōf hand scēawedon, […]
- since athelings all, through the earl’s great prowess, beheld that hand, on the high roof gazing, […]
- siððan æðelingas eorles cræfte ofer hēahne hrōf hand scēawedon, […]
- Uncertain date, Unknown author, Beowulf, line 1220:
- cen þec mid cræfte and þyssum cnyhtum wes
- preserve thy strength, and these striplings here
- cen þec mid cræfte and þyssum cnyhtum wes
- on ðam gefeohte Mæða cræft gefeol: in that battle the power of the Medes fell.
- Uncertain date, Unknown author, Beowulf, line 983:
- skill, art
- Uncertain date, Unknown author, Beowulf, line 2697:
- cræft and cēnðu, swā him gecynde wæs;
- […] craft and keenness and courage enduring.
- cræft and cēnðu, swā him gecynde wæs;
- nan mon ne mæg nænne cræft cyðan butan tolum: no man can show any skill without tools.
- Uncertain date, Unknown author, Beowulf, line 2697:
- an occupation
- hwæt begytst ðu of ðinum cræfte?: what do you get by your trade?
- a device, especially magical
- wæs æfre unbegunnen Scyppend, se ðe gemacode swylcne cræft: the Creator, who made such a work, was ever without beginning.
- deceit, fraud
- cræfta gehwilc byð cealde forgolden: all deceits will be forgotten coldly
Declension
Declension of cræft (strong a-stem)
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | cræft | cræftas |
| accusative | cræft | cræftas |
| genitive | cræftes | cræfta |
| dative | cræfte | cræftum |
Derived terms
- cræftiġ
- cræftlēas
- cræftlīċ
Related terms
- tungolcræft - astronomy
- tungolcræftwíse - astronomy
Descendants
- English: craft